title: A scale for rating tricyclic response in major depression: the TRIM.
abstract: We describe the construction and validation of the TRIM, an empirically derived scale designed to rate tricyclic antidepressant response in major depression. Symptoms selected were those that improved in direct association with therapeutic desipramine plasma levels, were frequently present, were substantially correlated with the scale total, could be reliably rated, and for which interview ratings were concordant with observed behavior. Eight symptoms met these criteria and were included. The sensitivity of the TRIM was tested and compared with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Scale (MADS) in a new 4-week prospective desipramine study of nonpsychotic unipolar inpatients with major depression. TRIM 4-week totals were significantly associated with total desipramine plus hydroxydesipramine plasma concentrations, r = -0.32, p less than 0.05, but HAM-D and MADS scores were not. Using multiple regression to control for pretreatment severity, TRIM scores were significantly associated with desipramine plus hydroxydesipramine levels, while HAM-D and MADS scores were not. The data appear to validate the sensitivity of the TRIM and illustrate that scales designed for drug response may detect drug effects that global scales do not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mazure
mesh_terms: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D010556:Personality Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D003891:Desipramine